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The Sideline Sage w/ Frank Ober – September 18, 2025

Frank Ober, The Sideline Sage

Fantasy Football Article: 2025 – 2026 Season Week 3

The big news after two weeks is the number of injuries to QBs. Hopefully, you drafted a solid number two QB if your team is impacted. There is a mixed bag of replacement QBs.

Cincinnati Bengals: QB Joe Burrow is out for at least three months, which is essentially the rest of the season. His replacement is Jake Browning who has had success starting for Burrow in the past. In week 2, he threw for two TDs and ran for another but threw three interceptions. He can be effective in the right matchup but not this week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota Vikings: QB JJ McCarthy will be out for two-to-four weeks with a high ankle sprain. This may be a blessing for the Vikings as he has played like a rookie and has been good in only one of eight quarters played. Carson Wentz will replace McCarthy. He’ll be starting a game for his sixth different team in the past six seasons. He can’t be any worse than McCarthy, but better options have to exist.
San Francisco 49ers: QB Brock Purdy has a chance to play in week 3, which is great news for his owners. Mac Jones replaced Purdy in week 2 and threw for 279 yards and three TDs. Jones is an ideal backup to operate in the Kyle Shanahan system, so he is a viable option if Purdy continues to miss time.
Washington Commanders: If QB Jayden Daniels misses any time, it would be a huge blow to the Commanders. Marcus Mariota is the backup, and he hasn’t had much playing time recently. One thing we know about Mariota is that he can run so any ineffectiveness in the passing game could be offset by his rushing yards. I would only start him if no other viable option is available.
New York Jets: QB Justin Fields is in concussion protocol and may not be cleared in time for week 3. Tyrod Taylor would be his replacement. Taylor is effective but more of a game manager. He will not put up fantasy worthy numbers so definitely look elsewhere for a QB.

Currently, the hot QB is Daniel Jones (aka Danny Dimes) of the Indianapolis Colts. If by some chance he is available on the waiver wire, he is worth picking up and even starting if you need help at the QB position. No one knows if Jones is this year’s reclamation story or if he’ll revert back to his old ways of turning the ball over too many times. One thing you can definitely count on is Danny Dimes giving you rushing yards.

Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler is out for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. This significantly boosts the value of rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt. This injury provides potential opportunities for Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. If you have room on your roster, they are both worth stashing on your bench.

Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and is out for at least four weeks, which opens the door for Jordan Mason. He has been the most explosive of the two RBs and now doesn’t have to share the workload. With QB JJ McCarthy also out, the Vikings might be more inclined to focus on the rushing attack. Mason is worth starting in week 3.

WR Jaylen Reed of the Green Bay Packers is out six-to-eight weeks with a broken collarbone. The Packers have one of the deepest WR rooms in the league and they tend to share the workload among all of their WRs. You never know week-to-week which WR will lead the team. Therefore, I tend to stay away from their WRs. If there is one WR this might help, it’s Romeo Doubs.

Week 2 Results

QB: Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys): 378 total yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int

Justin Herbert (Los Angeles Chargers): 273 total yards, 2 TDs, 0 Int

RB: Breece Hall (New York Jets): 2 receptions, 38 total yards, 0 TD

Travis Etienne (Jacksonville Jaguars): 2 receptions, 89 total yards, 1 TD

WR: DK Metcalf (Pittsburgh Steelers): 3 receptions, 20 total yards, 1 TD

Ricky Pearsall (San Francisco 49ers): 4 receptions, 52 total yards, 0 TD

TE: Hunter Henry (New England Patriots): 1 reception, 9 total yards, 0 TD

Sleeper – Harold Fannin Jr. (Cleveland Browns): 5 receptions, 48 total yards, 0 TD

PK: Tyler Loop (Baltimore Ravens): 11 points, 5 PATs, 2 FGs

Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers): 9 points, 0 PATs, 3 FGs

DF: San Francisco 49ers: 21 points against, 307 total yards allowed, 3 sacks, 1 takeaway

Dallas Cowboys: 37 points against, 506 total yards allowed, 3 sacks, 1 takeaway

Players to Start Week 3

QB: Michael Penix (Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers)

Aaron Rodgers (Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots)

RB: Jordan Mason (Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Jaylen Warren (Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots)

WR: Zay Flowers (Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions)

Sleeper – Calvin Ridley (Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts)

TE: Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers)

Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders)

PK: Will Reichard (Minnesota Vikings vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

Brandon McManus (Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns)

DF: Atlanta Falcons (at Carolina Panthers)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. New York Jets)

Week 2 Selections vs. the Point Spread

Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Washington Commanders Final Score: GB 27 Wash. 18

Minnesota Vikings (-4.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons Final Score: Atl. 22 Minn. 6

Houston Texans (-2.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Final Score: TB 20 Hou. 19

Week 2 Record: 1 – 2 Season Record: 2 – 4

Week 3 Selections vs. the Point Spread

Miami Dolphins (+12.0) at Buffalo Bills

The Dolphins have been terrible in their first two games, and their coach is on the hot seat. The Bills should win this game easily but giving 12 points is a lot. I think a garbage time score will help the Dolphins cover the spread.

Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5) at New York Giants

It’s hard to believe the Chiefs are 0-2 on the season. This is a must win for them and I don’t think QB Patrick Mahomes will allow them to lose. The Giants know how to lose games.

Detroit Lions (+5.5) at Baltimore Ravens

A great matchup and a potential Super Bowl preview. The Lions roared back in week 2 against their former offensive coordinator. However, that game was at home and indoors where QB Jared Goff tends to thrive. The Ravens are solid and can score on anyone. Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs is the key. He needs to have a big game for the Lions to have any chance. I think they’ll at least keep it close so take the points.